Logan's Indianapolis directory, 1868, Part 50

Author:
Publication date: 1868
Publisher: Logan
Number of Pages: 416

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them at a cost of about $32,000 each. Other lots have been purchased for sites, and in view of the future extension of the city be- yond the donation it would be good policy to secure sites for future houses on or beyond down the dog-fennel and thus give the place the present boundaries of the city. In a business appearance.

1867-8 a large, four story building, with

Little had been done by the old trustees basement, was erected in the south part of and councilmen in the way of street im- the sixth ward and will cost, when fully provements, beyond filling mud holes, cut- completed, about $43,000. It is at present ting drains or grubbing stumps, and though the largest and finest school building in the James Wood had been employed to make city. Tlic houses recently built are well a street profile in March, 1841, which had designed, well finished, and have far more been adopted in April, 1842, and followed architectural pretensions than the earlier in the subsequent improvements, and con- ones. Additional buildings are still needcd sidcrable sums expended, no permanent re- as the schools from the start have been sults had been achieved. The street profile much cramped for room.

was re-adopted by the new city council June 21, 1847, and a new system com- menced, beginning at the centre of the city and extending gradually outward. Prop- erty holders were required to bear the ex- year and the beginning of the next for lots pense of grading and gravelling in front of and buildings. The tax produced a larger sum each year with the increased growth of the city, and in 1857 yielded $20,329. At first the entire amount was expended for buildings, the teachers being paid by tuition their lots, and the city finished the cross- ings. The first bouldering was done in May, 1859, by Looker and Lefevre, on Washington between Illinois and Meridian streets, and by the summer of 1860 it was fees, but after the first houses were finished completed from Mississippi to Alabama the annual return was mostly expended in salaries, the schools being kept open longer, more teachers employed and better salaries paid.

streets, and from thence it has been extend- ed east and west and north and south. Nearly all the present street improvements, culverts and bridges, have been completed in the last twelve years.

The free school tax having been author- ized by a large majority, at the election held April 24, 1847, the council levied it and made arrangements for the schools. Each ward was made a district under the super- vision of a trustee. Houses were rented and teachers employed, the schools being free only for one quarter each year under and management of the city schools. A the State law. Donations of lots and money code of rules was drawn up by Calvin were asked, and the thanks of the council Fletcher, arrangements made, and on the extended, in December, 1847, to Thomas 25th of April the free schools were opened

The first tax levy, in 1847, produced $1,- 981; that of 1848, $2,385; that of 1849, $2,851. In 1850 the fund amounted to $6,160, $5,938 of which sum was spent that

In 1847 the several wards were constitut- ed independent districts, each under the supervision of a trustce, and schools were opened in the fall of that year or spring of 1848, in rented houses. This continued till January, 1853, when the council elected Henry P. Coburn, Calvin Fletcher and Henry F. West, a board of trustees under the new law, giving them the sole control

(6)

HISTORY OF

for the first time, two male and twelve fe- daily attendance. The schools were graded male teachers being employed. Until that date the number of pupils had averaged only 340, but by the first of May the atten-

as primary, secondary, intermediate, gram- mar and high schools. The system was working prosperously and a bright career dance rose to 700, and over 1,000 out of the seemed certainly before it when the supreme 2,600 children in the city were enrolled. court decision on the tax question in Janu- Until the election of this board of trustees ary, 1858, struck a fatal blow at the whole the schools had been conducted indepen- fabric. The city council was immediately dently, without a common system, text convened to consider the question. It called books or course of study. At the request meetings of citizens in the several wards to of the trustees the principals of the leading devise measures by which the schools could private schools prepared a list of text books be continued. The meetings were held and a course of instruction which was adopt- January 29th, and 1,100 scholarships were ed and subsequently followed. In August subscribed amounting to $3,000, and it was the graded system was adopted, and the resolved to sustain the free system for the high school, for more advanced pupils, was current quarter, and as a pay system after- opened September 1st, by E. P. Cole, with one assistant, in the old county seminary, ward. The schools were closed, however, at the end of the quarter, the superinten- which had been repaired and refitted for dent and teachers left for other points, and the purpose. From this date to February, the houses remained vacant or used occa- 1855, the system was under the sole super- sionally for private schools for a year or two vision of the trustees, who served without afterward.

compensation and almost without thanks, No free schools were opened in 1859. A to the detriment of their private interests, small tax was levied for the repairs of but they persevered in the work, overcame houses and furniture, and from the State fund free terms of eighteen weeks each were held in 1860 and 1861. The system was

all obstacles, and at last interested the peo- ple in the enterprise. The work, however, proved too great, and at their request the reorganized under the law of 1862, and a council in February, 1855, elected Silas T.

term of twenty-two weeks held that year Bowen superintendent, at a salary of $400 and since that date it has been gradually per annum, (which he earned twice over,)

regaining the ground occupied in 1858. requiring him to give a large share of his Prof. George W. Hoss acted as superintend- time to the duties of the office. He effected a marked improvement, but it was soon evident that the duties required more labor and time than he could bestow, and the council, in March, 1856, appointed George B. Stone (who had succeeded E. P. Cole as

ent in 1862-3, having 29 teachers employed and 2,374 pupils enrolled. In September, 1863, the system was again rcorganised, A. C. Shortridge being elected superintendent, and since that date full terms of thirty-nine weeks have been held each year. The principal of the high school,) superinten- schools are graded as primary, intermediate dent at a salary of $1,000 a year, requiring and high, with four subordinate grades (A. him to give all his time to the schools. He at once perfected the system, adopted im-

B. C. and D.) in each. Common text books are used in the similar grades, and all the proved methods of teaching, held meetings children in any given subordinate grade of of the teachers and examined and drilled all the schools are simultaneously pursuing them for their work, inspired them with his the same course of study, graduating from own zeal and energy, and made the system the lower to the higher subordinate grades, so thorough and popular that the prejudice and from the primary to the intermediate which had existed against it died out. The and thence to the high school, the whole school tax was willingly paid, and the pri- course requiring twelve years, (ten months

vate schools sank into the back ground or languished for want of their former sup-

in each year,) and giving the pupils a thorough English education. Daily regis- port. With the increasing revenue better ters are kept showing the conduct, atten- salaries (ranging from $300 to $600,) were dance and scholarship of each pupil, and a paid, the terms were lengthened, more given average must be attained before pro- teachers engaged, 35, mostly females, being motion to a higher grade is granted. The employed in 1857. The average attendance registers thus kept show a great improve- of pupils had risen from 340 in April, 1853, ment in attendance and scholarship in the to 1,400 in 1856, and 1,800 in 1857. The last three years.

total number enrolled at that date was about The school buildings and the whole sys- 2,800. Ten houses were occupied, seating tem are controlled by three trustees clected comfortably only 1,200, but crowded with by the city council, but accountable for their 1,800 pupils. Forty-four per cent. of thefacts and expenditures to the county com- children in the city were enrolled, and 73 missioners and the superintendent of public per cent. of those enrolled were in average instruction. They have charge of the ex-

INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.

penditures for buildings, tuition, employ- ment of teachers, &c; the expenditures be-

wards, under the supervision of seven trus- tees, one to each district or ward. A board ing made from two separate funds, one of three trustees was then elected by the being for buildings and repairs, the other

council to take charge of the entire system, for tuition, and derived partly from the State and retained the control of it till April 12, school fund and partly from a special city tax. The immediate management of the schools devolves on a superintendent, who devotes his whole time to them and receives of whom are now employed, three male and

1861, when (under the new law) an ordi- nance was passed making the wards districts, and requiring the voters of each of the seven wards to elect a school trustee for their a salary of $2000. The teachers (sixty-two ward. They were elected in May of that year for two years. This system continued fifty-nine female,) receive salaries ranging till April, 1865, when, under the law of that from $400 to $700, and are only employed after a thorough examination of their qual- ifications for the position. Improved methods of instruction have been promptly adopted, object teaching, gymnastics, music, penmanship and other branches, are taught year, the council elected three trustees, W. H. L. Noble, T. B. Elliott and C. Vonnc- gut, who have since been continued in office and had the entire management of our city school system. The city is greatly indebted to the early trustees (prominent among by special instructors, who visit the schools whom were Henry F. West, Henry P. Co- in turn for that purpose.

burn, Calvin Fletcher, sr., Silas T. Bowen,

The following table shows the number of David V. Culley, David S. Beatty and Jno. houses, teachers, children enrolled in the B. Dillon,) for their zeal, energy and perse-

schools, average number enrolled, daily verance under very discouraging circum- stances, and to the present board, Messrs. Noble, Elliott and Vonnegut, for reviving and carrying forward the system. Silas T. average attendance and per cent. of atten- dance from 1863 to the present time. No reliable returns exist as to the total number of children of school age (6 to 21,) in the Bowen, George B. Stone, George W. Hoss city for the several years, and no records and A. C. Shortridge, have been the super- exist as to above items for the years 1853-8. intendents. To Mr. Stone belongs the cred- When the new sixth ward building is open- it for perfecting the system and demonstrat- ed, 4,200 children can be accommodated ing its usefulness, and to Mr. Shortridge its with seats, and 75 or 80 teachers can be revival and present efficiency. The city employed.

Years.

School

Houses.

Teachers

Children

Enrolled.

Average

No Pupils

Per Cent.

3% Attend'ce

may well be proud of the system, and of the thoroughly drilled corps of instructors now employed, and with continued careful man- agement the frce schools will be among the first of her future glories.

1863-4 30 In May, 1847, the Grand Masonic Lodge 2,374 1,260 86 1864-5 28 2,533 1,428 92 bought a lot at the south - east corner of 1865-6 9 34 3,242 1,600 91.1 Washington and Tennessee streets and 1866-7 11 58 4,399 2,505 94.2 formed a stock company to build a hall. A 1867-8 12 62 95.3 3,137 4,949 plan drawn by J. Willis, architect, having In September, 1853, when the graded been accepted, the corner-stone was laid system was adopted, the schools were rated as primary, intermediate, grammar and high school, the last being opened in the with appropriate ceremonies October 25th, 1848, and the hall built in 1849-50 at a cost of about $20,000. It was opened in the old seminary building, on the first of Sep- spring, but not finished till the fall of 1850, tember, by E. P. Cole, with one assistant.

and was finally dedicated by the Grand It was held there till the downfall of the Lodge May 27th, 1851. The concert room schools in 1858. It was re-established in

in the second story was the first large hall 1864, and held at the first ward house, and opened here for public meetings, and was from the spring of 1867 in the old Second in almost constant use from the time of its Presbyterian Church on Circle street, which opening till the erection of Morrison's Opera was then purchased for $13,500. This Hall on Meridian street in 1865, since which building is now undergoing alterations and time it has been comparatively little used. being better fitted for school uses at an ex-

The constitutional convention of 1850 was pense of about $4,500. The principals of held in Masonic Hall, and nearly all the this school from 1853 to 1858 were E. P. Cole, George B. Stone and W. B. Henkle. Since 1864 W. A. Bell, Pleasant Bond, W. conventions, concerts, lectures, panoramas, and exhibitions, dramatic and otherwise, for fifteen years, were given in it. Almost all

J. Squier and W. A. Bell. The present the leading speakers, lecturers and singers salary is $1,600.

of the country have appeared on its stage. From 1847 to January, 1853, the schools The stock in the building was long since were conducted independently in the seven purchased by the Grand Lodge, and it is

HISTORY OF

now proposed to change and improve the a flat bar track till 1850-2, when it was taken up and T rail substituted.

building.

A meeting was held in May to make ar- The Madison road had been begun in rangements for a formal welcome to the 1838 by the State, the cost being estimated First Indiana Regiment of Volunteers ex- at $2,240,000, of which sum the inclined plane was to cost $272,000. Twenty-eight miles were finished in 1841 at a cost of $1,- pected soon to return from Mexico. The welcome proved a failure, as the volunteers returned in small squads in wagons and 500,000. Branham & Co. leased the road stages at different periods, and it was impos- sible to divide the "enthusiasm " aecord- ingly. in April, 1839, for sixty per cent. of the re- ceipts, the State keeping up repairs and supplying motive power. The work was surrendered to a company in 1842, and completed October 1st, 1847. N. B. Palm- er, S. Merrill, John Brough, E. W. H. El-

The first instalment of female teachers sent by Governor Slade from New England arrived here in June and were sent to vari- ous parts of the country. They were soon lis, F. O. J. Smith and others were presi- married, and others were afterward sent in their stead. In July, the remains of Cap- tain T. B. Kinder, brought from Buena Vista by his company, were buried with military honors in the old cemetery.

The near completion of the Madison rail- road awakened the interest of the commun- company organized, and was bought a year

ity in such enterprises, and frequent meet- ings were held during the summer and fall to advocate roads to different points and organize companies. A new impetus was given to business, strect improvements were begun, new buildings and workshops erect- the streets.

Arrangements were made September 25tl at a citizens' meeting to celebrate the com- pletion of the railroad on the 1st of October. The last rail was laid at about nine o'clock

dents till the line was sold. In January, 1854, it was consolidated with and operated together with the Peru road, but the ar- rangement was severed after a few months. It was sold by the United States Marshal March 27th, 1862, for $325,000, and a new

cd, and new residents were met daily on two and one-half cents on the dollar. The

or two afterward by the Jeffersonville Com- pany, and has since been operated by that organization. For some time after its com- pletion this road paid better than any other in the country. In 1852 its stock sold at $1.60, and in January, 1856, had fallen to State held stock in the road valued at $1,- 200,000, but was ultimately cheated out of it, receiving searcely anything for it.

that morning, just as two crowded excursion el and surplus products at last existed, and trains arrived from below, greeted by a

The isolation of the town ended with the completion of this road. An outlet for trav- the town became a centre of traffic for a great crowd of rejoicing natives, many of considerable region around it. Wheat, whom then first saw a locomotive and train, which had been selling at forty cents per and who joyously filled an excursion train b ishel, rosc in a few weeks to ninety cents. to Franklin and back. The great even was celebrated by the firing of cannon, and by a procession which included Spalding's

O.her farm products advanced in propor- tion, and goods and groceries declined. Trade improved, building increased, work- entire circus outfit, Ned Kendall's band and shops were started, property advanced in a country cavalry company. An address priee, and city airs were timidly assumed. was also delivered by Governor Whitcomb The Madison road exacted such high rates for fares and freights, and for sev- eral years made such heavy profits that opposition was aroused; other routes were lemanded, and roads to Bellefontaine, l'erre Haute, Peru, Lafayete, Lawrence- ourg and Jeffersonville, were advocated. The old companies were resuscitated, or lew charters obtained; the projects were energetically pushed in 1848-9, meetings were held, stock subscribed, surveys made ind contracts let. In 1849-50 a railroad 'ever prevailed in the community, and did rot subside until eight lines were com- from the top of a car at the depot, and an illumination and fireworks exhibition closed the festivities at night. The excursionists were hauled across the low and muddy val- ley of Pogue's run in carriages and wood wagons, and the few hotels were crowded with hungry guests. The depot had been located on the high ground south of the creek, a quarter of a mile from the town, during the preecding summer, its location. there being opposed by many persons who urged that it should front on Maryland street, which was then the southern settled limit. A cluster of warehouses was built p'eted, and the city became widely known around it, and for several years it formed a a : the "railroad city" of the west. From separate settlement until the expansion of under estimates.as to cost and over esti- the city included it in the body of the placc.

matos as to immediate business, the lines The depot was built in 1846-7, the engine failed to realize the hopes of stockholders, house and shops in 1850, and the road had but while not at once remunerative to them,

INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.

the gain to the State and city was very great. The construction, in a few years, of many depots, shops and warehouses, dis- bursed much money, attracted many work- men, and stimulated manufacturing enter- prises. The population of 4,000 in 1847, increased to 8,100 in 1850. 10,800 in 1852, 15,000, in 1857, and 18,000 in 1860.

For sometime each road used its own de- pot; passengers and freights being trans- ferred from one to the other by hacks and drays, but a connection by rail was soon proposed, and an agreement having been made in August, 1849, between the compa- nies, and the right of way having been granted December 20, 1848 by the council, the Union Railroad Co., was organized, the Union track located and laid in 1850, (re- laid in 1853,) the ground bought and a Union passenger depot, 120 by 420 feet, built in 1852-3, on Meridian, Illinois and Louisiana streets. It was opened Septem- ber 28, 1853, William N. Jackson being appointed general ticket agent, a post ever since held by him. It has since been used by eight separate lines, and was en- larged, improved and an eating house added in 1866. In December, 1867, the Junction Railroad Co., and the Crawfords- ville and Vincennes lines unsuccessfully applied for admission to the depot, and it is possible that a Union passenger station will yet be erected in the western part of the city. Such a depot will ultimately be erected, for the present one can not. accom- modate all the business of the future.

A brief statement of the history of the several roads projected and built since the Madison road, may be given here. .. Promi- nent among these was the Bellefontaine road to Union City on the State line, which was energetically pushed by the first Pres- ident, Oliver H. Smith, its construction being largely due to his efforts. It was chartered in 1848, meetings held, stock sub- scribed and right-of-way secured in 1848- 9; contracts were let in the fall of 1849, track-laying began April, 1850, cars ran to Pendleton, twenty-eight miles, December. 1850, and the road was finished, eighty- four miles, to the State line, December 1852, at a cost of $21,550 per mile. The brick depot and shops were built in 1851, in the north-east part of the city and used till the Union depot and track were finished, when a frame freight depot and brick engine house and shops were built in November, 1853, at the corner of Virginia avenne and Pogue's run. These were used till 1864 when the large frame freight de- pot and brick shops and engine house were completed and occupied in the eastern part of the city. The engine house and shops on Virginia avenue were then torn away,

but the frame depot is still used for way freights. The first depot and shops, with 1,100 feet of track and five acres of ground were sold in July, 1853, for $17,500 to Mr. Farnsworth, and were used by Farnsworth & Barnard as a car factory from November 1853 till 1859. It then remained vacant till after the war began and was occupied as a Government stable from 1862 to 1865, when it was burned down. The Bellefon- taine road was consolidated in 1855 with the connecting Ohio line to Galion. The stock was "watered" and the name changed to the Indianapolis, Pittsburg & Cleveland Railroad. In the spring of 1868 a further consolidation was effected with the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati road, and the new road is known as the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & In- dianapolis Railroad. O. H. Smith, Alfred Harrison, Calvin Fletcher, John Brough, S. Witt, and others, have been Presidents of this corporation since its charter. It has been one of the best freight and passenger roads leading to this point.

The Lawrenceburg and upper Mississip- pi road was originally begun in sections, or several short roads, in 1850, a through road being bitterly and successfully op- posed by the Madison Co., but was finally chartered in 1851 and finished to Law- renceburg, 90 miles, in October 1853, un- der Geo. H. Dunn, the first president. The name was changed December 1853 to the Indianapolis and Cincinnati road. The Ohio and Mississippi road having been fin- ished from Cincinnati to Lawrenceburg in April 1854, a third rail was laid and the cars run to that city, 110 miles, under a lease. In 1854-5 the old White-water ca- nal was bought, and a separate track laid in its bed, and a fine passenger and freight depot built. The shops of the com- pany were built south-east of the city in 1853, but were burned in 1855, and soon af- terward rebuilt. They were removed to Cincinnati in 1865 and are now located there. The brick freight depot was built on Louisiana and Delaware streets in 1853, and is now used by the consolidated roads .. In 1866, after an effort to build a rival line via Crawfordsville to Lafayette, a consoli- dation was effected with the Lafayette road and the name adopted for the united corpo- ration is Indianapolis, Cincinnati and La- fayette road. Branch roads have been built up the Whitewater valley on the ca- nal bank, and from Fairland to Martins- ville, and in March 1868 a consolidation was effected with the Vincennes road .- Much opposition was aroused by this last movement, but Mr. Lord, in a speech to our business men, in April 1868, greatly al- layed the feeling, and promised that his

HISTORY OF

policy should not prove detrimental to the interests of this city. Geo. H. Dunn, Thos. A. Morris and Henry C. Lord have been presidents of this corporation.

The Jeffersonville road was begun in 1848 and finished to Edinburgh, 78 miles, in 1852, at a cost of $1,185,000. It had been designed to extend to this point, but in August 1853 a lease was obtained from the Madison road, by which the use of that road with its shops, depots and houses was perpetually secured, and in 1863 the Jef- ferson ville company bought the entire road and equipment and now operate both lines. A branch road was built in 1852 from Ed- inburgh to Shelbyville and Rushville, 26 miles, at a cost of $525,000, but was after- ward abandoned. The war traffic and travel was immense over the Jeffersonville road, it being the only direct southern line leading to the seat of war. Jolin Zulauf, Dillard Ricketts and others, have been its presidents.

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Logan's Indianapolis directory, 1868, Part 50

Author: Publication date: 1868 Publisher: Logan Number of Pages: 416

Author:
Publication date: 1868
Publisher: Logan
Number of Pages: 416